Tractor-supported plowing attachment



MM i

1,630,576 May s1. 1927. XM. B. MONSON Y TRACTOR SUPPORTED PLOWING ATTACHMENT Filed March 20. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l Patented May 31, 1927.

UNITED STATES vimTravi* OFFICE. f

MARTIN n; Monson, or Jnrrnnsonoonn'rir, nnen wnnernrnsn, COLORADO, Assenon, BY Dinner ann 1i/inertie,Assrenrinnns, Vro fri-ramone PLOW a MANUFAC- TUBING ooMrnNY, or nnivvnn, oononnioo,v A oonrone'rion OF COLORADO.

`'IRAC'ITORTSUPPOIEWIEI) PLOVVING ATTACHMENT.

Application `filed March 1925. `Serial, No. 16,981.

This invention relates to tractorsupported plowinp` attachments `and more particularly to means for ,mounting and adjustably controlling' the plowing' means thereof.

`The in'iprovements have `been `more espe,

tially spaced forwardly and rearwardly dis-` posed supporting'.elements in direct-lyv sus- ,causo trom another aspect theinventioir pended association withthe tractor', the orward support providing lor pivotall connection, `between the `plow beam and a main body part of the tractor, while the rearward element Jfunctions as a `movable support `tor controlling; the raising' and ,lowering ot `the plow beam with its attachedv plow body or bottom, and the advantages oli which are all well understood.

However, while l have illustrated and shall describe my improvements with more particular reference to twofway plowing apparatus, it is nevertheless eini'ihasized at the ,outset that l do not wish to unnecessarily confine myself to this particular use in all.

casesrexceptiug where especially claimed, ben

actually comprehends the broader embodiment Ot the` novel combination. oit elements relatively. to a single plow/beam and its attached bottom.

Prii'nary objects of the `iniention have been to simplify, strengthen and generally perfect plow beam mount-ings of the `aforesaidanalogous type, not only for `more facile operation, increased elliclency anddurabllity in use, but also from the viewpoints ot'` economy in manufacture and the material saving; ot time, trouble and expense in in stallation and den'iounting operations, `and rsiiecially with reference to a certain type ot'V relatively low cost and compactly built tractor which has its main body extending l down well below the axis ot its power traction wheels.

""he l'oregoinggand other objects `and advantages, however, will more clearlyappear as incidental to the followingl disclosure, and with these general outlining; remarks, there- "ll now be had tothe acooin ings,

il'bus'lrating` a practical embodiment of `the drawingsv Figure 1 is a sideelevationalview of the attachments as applied 'to the rear endof the aforesaid type ot' tractor, `the traction wheel improvements, in ,which on-.that side being;l omitted,` for clearer ,illustration; ligure is a top plan view thereof, the .plow ,bottoms and tractor end being shown in dotted outline; Figure 3 is across- `sectional view, taken alongtheirregular section line 8?) of `tCigure 1; Figure tis a detail cross-sectional view talrenlalongthe line lor' 'Figure 1; and Figure ois afdetail cross-,sectional view `,taken locally `along `the line 5 of Figure 1. l

v The numeral 9` designates the elongated portion i of the `,transmission housing of y,the ftractor, the forward ond of which. housing has an annular coupling,` ian'gO10, `whilefthe reruxend provides for the wormdrive ,casing 11 `that has the head plates 12, carryinglthe axle casings 13, and the tractor being `provided with the usualjtail lug or drawfbar cap" 111-.. rChe numeral 15 designates `the plowing' means proper, the beamV o't'yeachgot which may have `a forwardly disposed straight section 16, extending` rearwardlyas asubstantially curving` seotionl' :fonmountingits plow bottom. However, noneol `these `elements oi themselves 'forms anypart ofmy iiivent`oii,lmt l. have rirstwrejferred to them by reference hulnerals,` in `identifying `the parts to which .my equiyiiment may perhaps be best, litted.

The numeral 18 designates ,an elongated base bar support that extends longitudinally, :trom immediately, below the draw bar cap @hier the entire length Ot' the transmission housing` 9, in slightly oi'set orspaced ,relationto the centralbottom loi ,said housing, the `forward end of said base bar being supported by a :forward metal strap hanger l9,the angular suspension arms of which are securely bolted7 as at 20, or otherwise anchored` to the coupling liange element 10. 'llo prevent any possible buckling or distortion of this main `base bar 18rom stresses imposed thereon by parts connected thereto, although l do lnot believe the addition is necessarily essential, l haveshown an intermediate metal strap hanger 21, for snugly seating` the hase bar ltlat more or less-fof "a central j 4,itiomthe heut suspension .arms

of which intermediate. hanger may be securely bolted, as at 22, or otherwise anchored to "the head plates l2 of the Worin drive casing.

At the underneath forward end portion of the base bar 18, substantially distant rearwardly from `its extreme forward end, there is securely bolted, or otherwise fixedly attached, a cross-bar support 23, Vwhich projects transversely at each end substantially beyond the side edgeyfaces of the main bar support 18, or perhaps instead of providing a separate cross-bar support, these llateral projectionsmiglit be formed as an integral part of thcbase bar 18. Although I `do not believethem to be necessarily essential. I have also shown a `pair of angularlydisposed bracing rods 24, in the form of hook elements, extending from the projecting ends of said cross-bar 23 to the said base bar 18.forwardly of said crossbar.

[The underneath face of the cross-bar 23 may he providedfwith a pair of bearing blocks 25, shown` in dotted lines at Figure 2, forjournaling a rock shaft 26 that is formed with crank-like ends 27 terminating in laterally projected pintle `arms 28, which are adapted for actuation within coinplementary slotted elements as hereinafter referredto. The rock shaft 26, with its cranklilre ends, maybe operated by lever arms 29 attached thereto adjacently of said 'cranklike ends, and the whole functioning analogously to bell-crank leverage. The swing- 'j ing` ends of the lever arms 29 may be pivotally connectedV to complementary actuating (lll rods 30, shown broken oft'.

vThe cross-arinl, of a Ushapedsupport having upstanding arms 32 and forming part of a framework general supporting stiucture which will now be described, eX- tcnds immediately underneath the rear end of the4 base bar 18, and the cross-arm 33,

of a second U-shaped support having upstaiiding arms 34, rests `directly upon the draw bar cap 14, the two said cross-arms 31 and 33 being transversely disposed in parallel alignment and being securely bolted together and to said draw bar cap 14 and to the rear end of said base bar 18, as is indicated by the single bolt although there may be more of such bolts. At the opposite side edge faces of the rear end of the base bar i8, and between the cross-ann 3l and the draw bar cap 14, there are disposed a pair of narrow supporting plates 36 terminating in rearwardly7 projected transversely disposed shaft supports 37, hereinafter referred to, and the cross-arms 3l and` 33 aie further bolted together and to said draw `bar cap and said supporting plates 36 by bolts, indicated at 38, extending through and tying all of these elements together, as is clearly seen from Figures 2 and 3.

Upstanding stiil'ener bars 39 are shown in 34 could be omitted and tliebars lll made to serve in their place, by forming the hars 40 as integral continuations of the cross-arm 33 of the inner U-shaped support.

In the drawings, the upper ends ol. the

sets of arms or bars 32`-34-39 are shruvn as being securely connected together by the tie bolts 42, which latter also rigidly support the rear ends of forwardly projected angle bars 43, the forward ends of which latter are securely bolted to the head plates l2. Spacing sleeves are shown encompassing the tie bolts 42 for obvious purposes. A laterally disposed brace bar 44 is seated at its ends upon the angle bars 43, being ourely fastened thereto in any suitalile manner, as for instance by the nut controlled hook elements 45, and substantially still` coil springs 46 extend between and at their ends are secured, respectively, to said brace bar 44 and the curved rear sections 1T of the plow beams, the said springs functioning for the j nurpose hereinafter referred to.

The numerals 47 and 48 respectively designate rearwardly and forwardly located peripheral notches in ratchet or segment bars 49`of sector frames having downwardly `convergent radial arms 50-51 which are joined at their lower endsby short sections 52... These sector frames, of which there is one at each side of the general framework structure, may bc integrally formed and the segment bars 49 thereof are securely held in spaced relation to their complementary upstanding arm 32, of the outer Ushsiped support, by spacing elements 53 to which the segment bars are secured and which spacing elements in turn are secured to said iipstandiiig arms 32. The lower ends of said sector frames are also securely bolted as at 53,`thi'ough the short sections 52. lo their con'iplenieiitary upstaiuling arlu Ilil, on which bolts 53 the lower endsol. ojioratiug levers 54 may be pivotally supjiorled, and the said operating levers being provided with the usual means for controlling the actuation of detente coactiug with the ratchet notches 47 and 48 `of the segment bars 49. A curved guide bar 55 niountml in spacedrelation to each ol the acgiiicnt bars 49, between which bars the levers opel'- ate, as is understood.

Short shafts 5G extend between the supports 3i' and the lower portions 52 of the be threaded and project` slightly beyond lill `lllll Ilo .lixedly supported, withthe rocker arms 57- 5S pivotally swinging thereon, or these shafts could be mounted-as rock shafts, with the rocher arms .5T-558 securely attachedthereto, to swing` in reverse directions when so actuated by the operating` levers. The numeral el, l? i gure 3, simply .designates spacing washers which may encom Dass 'the shar'ts 56 b-etween the parts 52 ando?.

i @if course, 1n addition to the direct suspension olf the `plows 'troni the tractor', the

swinging or rocker-cam arms 57-58 mounting the rollers 59, underneath therear 'curved `section 17 oit each plowbeam, provides both a iulcruming `means for: tilting the plo-w beams, as may be desired, and also means controlled by theoperating handles 54 for bodily elevating and permitting of the lowering ot theplows relatively to the ground.

lVhile in many instances each roller 59 could be made to directly contact the lower face or" its rear plow beam section,there may be other instances where it would be more desirable to employ eam-.traclrmeans, underneath said lower faces, to `provide amore pronounced curving `'tace or `wedging surface, towards thev forward end kot the travel .ol' the roller, than would be provided. 'for by the ordinary curvature ot' such plow `beams ot standard makes, unless indeed they were specially shaped in initial production,` the object oit' such pronounced curvature being` to l'icilitate and accelerate lthe raising of the plow as the operating lever. 54 approaches the tor "ard `position offits swing.

yl1 o this end `there is illustrated` an inserted rearwardly tapering upper track element or `shim 6i, disposed .along the underneath tace of the rear portion o each plow beam, and spaced therefrom, at.. a distance slightly greater than the diameter ot' (the. rollers 59, is a lower track element 63, against which track elements `the rollers ride, the elements (32 and 63 providing ftor an arcuate slot along the underside of the beam. .Although the shim 62 is shown seatedv directly against the'underneath .aceof `the plow beam, it is nevertheless obvious that `it could be so mounted as to be wholly or partially spaced therefrom, and it is equally obvious .that the two traclr elements 69.463,01 each pair, could be formed as aiunit, for; attachment toiithe plow beam, insteadzot' in `twoseparatt-r parts as actually illustrated. y

The numcrale designates coupling rods, `'one oi' which` extends lbetween each` plow beam and the base bar 18, and thesecoupling rods may be formedwith end eyes 65, disposed at `right, angles to each other, the forwardly located eyes being connected to coinplementary clevisslikeelements G6, attached to the rear corners oi thecress-bar 28and said rearwardly locatedv eyes being connected. to complementary eye-bolt .elements 67 of supports G8 liXedly lsecured to the plow beams, 4preferably at positions towards the rear ot' the Yforward port-ions 16 thereof. Ot' course, equivalent coupling means could@ be substituted for the foregoing.

At the end of each plow beam section 1G, or at any suitable position thereof in. advance ol the vsupports (-38,1.1 provide any suitable slotted means to receive the pintfle arms 2S. This means is specilically shown as embodying plates (59, lixedly attached to said sections 16, which .plates at their. forward portions 70 are bent at right angles and turned baclr upon themselves` to provide substantially wide laterally opening slots 7l, and

within these slots are ,projected the pintle arms 28 ofthe crank-like elements 27, carried by the shaft 26 that is Operated by the levers lconnected with the `actuating rods 30 leading towards the seat of the tractor.

lith the forward mounting ot the plow beams as thus far disclosed, there would probably be a tendency towards lateral swing, which should be avoided, and this might be overcome in various ways. l pre for to dothis by threading the ends of the pintle arms 2S to take the nuts 73 washers 72 interposed between the nuts and `the outer edge laces oit the slotted member 70, the inner edge 'faces of said members T0 substantially abutting against the crank arms 27. Or I might employ a retaining guide member 74 'lor the anchoring connecting rod 64, either with or without the use of the elements 72-73, the saidguide member fl Vhaving a vertical slot 75 (see Fig.. l) through which'the rod 64 extend-"4. Either or both of .these constructions would overcome Vany subflo provides tor a resilienty connection and with s fill the rod Si. for a flexible anchorage, respectively, between the tractor and the rear and forward portions of the plow beam, it will be seen that the plow beam is in fact only positively supported at two positions, one supporting means being the roller 59, located rearwardly of the tractor, while the other supporting' means is the pintle arm Q8, located forwardly of the rear of the tractor and below the zone of its body portion, and both of said supporting means functioning as shiftable fulcrums.

Now, if it `be desired to plow a deeper furrow, upon gradually operating the lever 54 rearwardly, the link 60 will force the arm 57, together with the roller 59 and its other supporting arm 5S, to swing rearwardly and downwardly, thus allowing the plow to tend to lower itself of its own weight, against the tension of the spring 45, and as augmented by the bite of the plow point, in the earth, as well as by the engagement of the roller with the lower track (lf3, the parts being automatically loclied against reverse movements, until released, by the detent of the lever 5l engaging the proper notch 47 of the segment bar 49.

During the foregoing movements, the forward end support of the plow beam would pivot on the pintle arm 28, and the tendency would be to cause the plow point to be slightly directed upwardly. If it is desired, therefore, to malte the plow point bite more positively down into the earth, then upon exerting ay pull on the rod 30, through the medium of its operating lever not shown, the lever 29 will rotate the shaft 2G slightly in a direction to swing the pintle arm 28 in an arc downwardly and forwardly, moving the front end of the plow beam downwardly, with the rear end thereof fulcruming on the roller 59, and causing the plow point to slightly swing downwardly and rearwardly. It is understood that these `operations would be reversed if it were desired to have the plow point malle an upward glancing cut.

To elevate the plow any limited distance, the lever 5l is operated forwardly as far as desired, but assuming that the plow is to be raised entirely out of operative position, as when arriving at the end of a field or on any other occasion, then it is apparent that -the lever nel will be operated forwardly until its dctcnt engages with one of the for ward notches i8 of the scgnicnt bar 4D, when the parte will be held locked or latched. During the forward n'iovement of the lever 5ft. the link (i0 pulls the swinging arm 5T, with the roller 59 and its other supporting arm 5S, upwardly and forwardly to cause the roll-er to ride along the upper traclr, or against the plow' beam if there ybe no upper track, so that the rear end` of the plow beam will be elevated, with its plow, the forward end support of the plow insalate beam lrunnioning on the pintle 28. During the elevating movement of the plow, it is obvious that the action of the spring elli will augment the forward pressure on the lever Trl and thereby assist in raising the more or less heavy plow and rear end of thebeam, and it will `likewise be obvious that the raising of the plow will be more or less accelerated, towards the end of the forward movement of the lever 54, in proportion to the degree of curvature of the for y'ard bottom face of the track 62.

Although I prefer to employ suitable means for the vertical adjustment of the forward ends of the plow beams, still I do not wish to unnecessarily limit myself to this feature in all instances, because the other general elements of the improvements, in broader combination, would in a large degree function satisfactorily, even `without the employment of the elements QG to 2:30 and (59 to 73, although in the latter event, in so far as the drawings disclose, the pivotal supporting means for the forward por` tion of the plow beams would not necessarily be a shiftable fulcrum.

Although l have thus fully disclosed practial en'ibodiments of my improvements, it will nevertheless be understood that I do not limit myself to all of the details exactly as shown and described, excepting as they may come within the terms of the appended claims, or equivalent elements and combinations thereof,`or as fairly interpreted in the light of the specification if necessary.

lllhat l do claim, as new and patentable, 1s c l. In combination with a tractor and paired plow elements including rear and forward plow beam portions, of supporting means directly mounted upon said tractor, for suspending said rear plow beam portions therefrom, cnibodying rocker oranlolilte clements pivotally mounted at their lower ends and at their upper ends provided with a crosesmember disposed in arcuately operative association with the under side of its conn pleinentary rear plow beam portion, adjustable ineens for swinging said crank ele ments, and means for pivotally rrmnecting the forward plow beam`1i(' rlions with said tractor at positions forwardly of the rear of said tractor.

2. In combination with a tractor and paired plow elements including rea and forward plow beam portions, of supporting means directly mounted upon said tractor, for suspending said rear plow beam por tions therefrom, embodying rocker cranklike elements pivotally mounted at their lower ends and at their upper ends provided with a cross-member disposed in arcuately operative association with the underside of its complementary rear plow beam portion, adjustable actuating means for swinging said lill) crank elements, `and means for pivotally connecting the forward plow beam portions with said tractor at positions forwardly of the rear of said tractor and under vertically adjustable control.

3. rlhe combination with a tractor, having ,a rear transmission housing section, and paired plow elements including rear and forward plow beam portions, of supporting means directly mounted upon said tractor for suspending said rear plow beam portions therefrom, the said supporting means embodying adjustable means controlling the raising and lowering of said rear plow beam portions, a base bar extending longitudinally underneath said transmission housing in anchored relation thereto, and means for pivotally connecting said forward plow beam portions with said base bar.

et. The combination with a tractor', of a base bar so directly supported by the tractor as to extend forwardly underneath the body of the Same from the drawbar cap thereof, a plow element including rear and forward plow beam portions, vertically adjustable actuating means supporting said rear plow beam portion, and a coupling rod pivotally connected at its opposite ends re'H spectively to said base bar and the forward portion of said plow beam.

5. The combination with a t-ractor, of a base bar so directly supported by the tractor as to extend forwardly underneath the body of the same from the drawbar cap thereof, a plow element including rear and forward plow beam portions, a crankdike element pivotally mounted `adjacently of the rear portion of said base bar and having its cross member disposed in arcuately operative association with said rear plow beam portion, adjustable actuating means for swinging said crank element, and coupling means connecting the forward portion of said plow beam to said base bar.

6. The combination with a tractor, of a base bar so directly supported by the tractor as to extend forwardly underneath the body of the same from the drawbar cap thereof, a plow element including rear and forward plow beam portions, a crank-like element pivotally mounted adjacently of the rear portion of said base bar and having its cross-member disposed in arcuately operative association with theV under side of said rear plow beam portion, and a coupling rod piv. otally connected at its opposite ends respectively to said base bar and the forward portion of said plow beam.

7. lllhe combination with a tractor and a plow element including rear and forward plow beam portions, of supporting means directly mounted upon said tractor for suspending said rear plow beam portion therefrom in positively carried relation, the said supporting means embodying a swinging upwardly ldisposed pivoted support mounting an antifriction arcuately shiftable fulcruni so operatively associated with said rear plow beam portion as to raise and lower the same, a pivoted operating lever extending adjacently of the tractor seat, pivotal link con! nection means between said operating lever and said swinging support, and means pivotally connecting said forward plow bea-ni portion with said tractor at a position forwardly of the rear end of said tractor.

8. 'lhe combination with a tractor, having a rearwardly located and projected draw bar element, and a Vplow element inclu-ding rear and forward plow beam portions, of supporting' means directly mounted upon said draw .bar element for suspending said rear plow beam portion therefrom in positively carried Ielution, the said supporting means including a swinging upwardly disposed pivoted support mounting an arcuately shiftable fulcrum element so operatively associa-ted with said rear plow beam portion as to raise and lower the same, a pivoted operating lever extending adj acently of the tractor seat, a pivotal link connecting said lever with said swinging support, a coupling rod in pivotal connection between said forward plow beam portion and said tractor, and an arcuately shiftable fulcrum element suspending the forward end portion of said plow beam from said tractor'.

In testimony whereof, 'l afiX my signature.

MARTIN B. MONSON. 

